Courier Work In Film: Our Top 5 Movies

All the greatest professions have films made about them: doctors, lawyers, firefighters… and, of course, couriers! From fast-paced documentaries to award-winning fictional hits, there’s a whole catalogue of movies that display courier work on the big screen, whether it’s just a job title or the premise of the whole cinematic experience.

If you love logistics and are curious to see just how many couriers have risen to fame in film, check out the list below for our top five movies.

Premium Rush’s Wilee

The 2012 sleeper hit Premium Rush stars Joseph Gorden-Levitt, who plays a self-assured bike messenger by the name of Wilee. As Wilee goes about his courier work, he runs into trouble with a New York police officer (who is played by Michael Shannon). This film is fast-paced and thrilling – perfect for those who love action as much as they love logistics.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Singing Telegram

This one may be pushing it, as the singing telegram lady has limited screen time. In fact, it is so limited, she only has one line (and what an accurate line it is): ‘I am a singing telegram’. Short, sweet and to the point, isn’t it?

Cast Away’s Chuck Noland

Cast Away is an award-winning film – and one you probably already know. It tells the story of Chuck Noland, played by Tom Hanks, who is marooned on a desert island and has to survive there for four years. While there’s not much actual courier work portrayed during the movie (save for a small delivery scene at the end), Noland is a FedEx employee… and we think that since it’s such a great movie that definitely counts!

The Transporter’s Frank Martin

The Transporter tells the story of Frank Martin (played by Jason Statham), a man whose courier workrequires him to carry packages for some private – and, let’s face it, pretty dodgy – clients. Things start to get weird when one of his parcels begins moving. If you’re wondering what happens next, you’ll have to watch this action-packed film (or any of its two sequels) to see for yourself.

Line of Sight’s Lucas Brunelle

Lucas Brunelle doesn’t just play a courier in Line of Sight – he actually is one. This documentary from 2012 follows Brunelle (often via his helmet-cam) through the underground world of bicycle messenger racing. This is one you don’t want to miss, especially if you like your films revealing, hectic, fascinating and, perhaps most important of all, real.

Whether these films are firm favourites you’ve had for years or ones you’ve just now popped on your watch list, one thing is for sure: Hollywood likes courier work so much they’ve put it on the silver screen, and they’re showing no intention of stopping that anytime soon.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.